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The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has cautioned Europe against returning to Russian gas supplies, warning that doing so would be both economically and politically misguided despite the current turmoil in global energy markets, according to a Reuters report.IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the ongoing Middle East crisis has prompted fresh debate in some quarters about whether Europe should resume buying gas from Russia.
“The current crisis in the Middle East has led to questions in some quarters about whether to go back to Russia or not,” Birol told reporters after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU commissioners to discuss global energy markets.Birol said such a move would repeat a major strategic mistake Europe made in the past by relying heavily on a single supplier for its energy needs.“One of Europe’s historical mistakes was the over-reliance of its energy sources on one single country, Russia,” he said.Earlier, US has temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil to allow cargoes already stranded at sea to be delivered and sold to India.The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a Russia-related licence authorising the delivery and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian Federation origin loaded on vessels as of March 5, 2026 to India, according to a Treasury statement.The authorisation allows transactions– including cargoes carried by vessels blocked under various sanctions regimes — until the end of April 3, 2026.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver was issued “to enable oil to keep flowing into the global market.”“This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea,” he wrote in a post on X.Bessent added that allowing these shipments to reach India would “alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage,” even as India has said it will stop purchasing Russian oil under a trade agreement with the United States.
As India get ready for the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a debate has started over the team’s opening combination. Questions are being raised about whether the side should continue with Abhishek Sharma despite his run of low scores or bring in Rinku Singh for the title clash.With the trophy at stake, the discussion has spread among fans and experts.Abhishek’s numbers in the tournament have drawn attention. In seven matches, the left-hander has scored 0, 0, 0, 15, 55, 10 and 9, making a total of 89 runs at an average of 12.71.Except for a half-century against Zimbabwe, he has not managed to score consistently, leading to questions over whether India should persist with him in the final.The debate has gained momentum on social media, especially on X, where fans have expressed different views on the issue.“You can’t take risks with a person who is consistently flopping. This is the final and we must go with full strength, without any weak link,” wrote one fan, as cited by news agency IANS.Another supporter said rival teams have already worked out how to dismiss him. “Abhishek has become so predictable. New Zealand will make sure he doesn’t score either. Rinku should come in.”There are also voices supporting the youngster. “Abhishek can be our X factor in the final. There is a big inning due from him. He might deliver big in the finale,” another fan commented, as cited by IANS.For the team management, the situation presents a choice: continue backing a player through a difficult phase or make a change before the final.Attention is now on head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. They will decide whether to stick with the combination that took India to the final or bring in Rinku Singh for the match.At present, a change appears unlikely, but the decision will show whether India opts for continuity or makes a late adjustment ahead of the final.India vs New Zealand finalDate & Time: India will face New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, March 8. The match will begin at 7:00 PM (IST).Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadLive Telecast: Star Sports NetworkLive Streaming: JioHotstar app.
NEW DELHI: Politics in Bihar has revolved around Jayaprakash Narayan’s disciples —Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav — for more than three decades. With Lalu stepping back from active politics and Nitish now opting for a Rajya Sabha seat over the state’s top job, Bihar appears to be entering an unknown phase, with a new face likely to take over as chief minister.After an overwhelming performance in the recently held Bihar assembly elections, Nitish filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.“I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time. I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance,” the 75-year-old politician wrote on X.Although many anticipated this move amid speculation about his deteriorating health, Nitish’s sudden announcement still surprised many who expected a smoother transition plan.In the coming days, Nitish is expected to win the election unopposed and move to the Rajya Sabha, thus resigning from the chief ministerial post. The Janata Dal (United) chief’s decision not only ends the political lineage of JP Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur in Bihar but also throws his party into uncharted waters with no clear roadmap for the future.After Nitish, who?Nitish had long been the “Peer-Bawarchi-Bhisti-Khar” for his party. Despite never managing an outright majority in the state assembly, Nitish Kumar‘s “Sushasan Babu” image helped the party remain in the driver’s seat of Bihar politics for more than two decades.However, the party never managed to nurture a second line of command beyond Nitish. Leaders like Sanjay Jha, Lalan Singh and Vijay Choudhary exist within the party, but none enjoys a mass connection with the JD(U)’s core vote base.Additionally, Nitish has always been a staunch opponent of dynastic politics. Throughout his long political career, he never allowed his family members to enter politics in any form. Unlike Lalu, who made his son Tejashwi Yadav his political heir, Nitish’s son Nishant has remained away from politics.
Amid these ongoing developments, speculation is growing that Nishant may make a political debut, with the party seeing him as a potential link to its core supporters.“Now, it’s clear, and it has been finalised that Nishant Kumar will join active politics. The party will make a formal announcement in a day or two. Party workers have been demanding Nishant’s entry into politics for several years. Now party workers and supporters are upbeat with the decision ahead of Holi,” senior JD(U) leader Shrawan Kumar told news agency PTI.However, Nitish’s brother-in-law Anil Kumar accused Sanjay Jha and Lallan Singh of hatching a conspiracy against JD(U).“The workers are clearly saying that Sanjay Jha and Lalan (Rajiv Ranjan) Singh are involved in this… This cannot happen without a conspiracy… All the workers are saying Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh’s name,” he said. In conversation with The Times of India, political analyst Kumar Vijay said that JD(U)’s future looks bleak after Nitish Kumar’s exit from the centre stage of Bihar politics.
“Nitish Kumar’s exit in this manner is not a natural political transition. If it had been a natural process, it would have been different. Everyone says Nitish Kumar’s health is not good, but the way events unfolded has surprised many. From what it appears, the future of JD(U) looks quite difficult. People say that Nishant may take over, but he has no political experience. Also, the people around him are not very open yet, but there seems to be something happening internally that is preventing Nitish Kumar from speaking openly,” Vijay said.“At the same time, the role of leaders like Sanjay Jha, Lalan Singh, Vijay Choudhary and Ashok Choudhary looks suspicious. In a way, they have deserted Nitish Kumar, and there may be no one left capable of holding JD(U) together. At the worker level, protests have already begun. Hardcore JD(U) workers believe this is BJP’s handling of the situation,” he added.Will BJP-JD(U) merge?Kumar Vijay also feels that there might be a possibility that JD(U) will merge with its ally BJP in the coming days, though not everyone in the party may accept such a move.“There is also a possibility that BJP and JD(U) may merge in the future, though not everyone in JD(U) will accept such a merger. Several leaders may resist it. Some leaders within the party may move to RJD, while others may join BJP,” Vijay told The Times of India.
“Earlier, JD(U) workers even voted for BJP candidates because they believed Nitish Kumar would ultimately remain chief minister. But now many hardcore workers may refuse to support BJP in the future,” he added.Nitish Kumar’s decision to move to Rajya Sabha has come just five months after BJP emerged as the elder brother in the alliance. In the 2025 assembly elections, BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 89 seats with a vote share of 20.45%, while JD(U) secured 85 seats with 19.61% votes.After the thumping victory, BJP appeared less a coalition partner and more a challenger trying to manoeuvre itself into the driver’s seat of power. It secured a larger share in the cabinet of ministers and Nitish Kumar also had to let go of the home portfolio.Interestingly, Bihar was the only Hindi heartland state where the party has not held the top office so far.What happens to Nitish Kumar’s EBC vote bank?Over time, Nitish gradually positioned himself as the “poster boy” of the Extremely Backward Class (EBC), which constitutes the largest portion of the population in Bihar.The JD(U) chief made a conscious effort to weave his support base around the entire EBC community by modelling his politics on Karpoori Thakur’s ideals and focusing specifically on the economically weaker sections.After his exit, questions also arise over who will get the advantage of the EBC vote bank.According to Kumar Vijay, no party in Bihar seems to be in a position to inherit the non-Yadav OBC and EBC vote banks.
“If Tejashwi Yadav had strong leadership credentials, that vote bank could have shifted to RJD. But the biggest tragedy in Bihar today is the lack of strong political leadership. Congress doesn’t have it, RJD doesn’t have it either. Despite being a politically mature state, Bihar is facing a serious leadership crisis,” he said.“Upendra Kushwaha has lost credibility. Tejashwi Yadav has not emerged as a grassroots leader. LJP too has become more of a dramatic political outfit,” he added.For Bihar, Nitish Kumar’s move to Rajya Sabha signals the end of a long political chapter that revolved around him, his constant alliance flip-flops and his ‘susashan’ government. We will know in the coming days who will take his position as CM. However, the coming months will determine how his party and state’s politics evolve beyond him.
The war in the Middle East entered its seventh day on Friday as the United States military released footage of what it described as multiple precision strikes on Iranian targets.In a post on X, the US central command shared a video showing American forces carrying out strikes against Iranian assets. “Iranian targets are being decimated by US forces, paving the way for continued delivery of overwhelming American military firepower,” the command said while sharing the footage.The video comes amid escalating hostilities across the region involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with missile attacks, air strikes and cross-border threats reported across the region.Israel said it had launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, targeting what it described as “regime infrastructure” in a “new phase” of the war. AFP journalists in the Iranian capital reported hearing loud explosions, while Iranian media also reported heavy strikes. An Iranian official said at least 20 people were killed in US and Israeli strikes in the southern city of Shiraz, though AFP said it could not independently verify the toll.Iranian missile launches triggered air-raid alerts in Israel, with reports of multiple blasts over Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it had detected missiles fired from Iran. “A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said.The conflict has also heightened tensions across the Gulf. Residents of Dubai on Friday received phone alerts from the Emirati interior ministry warning of potential missile threats and urging people to seek shelter away from windows and open areas.Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted three drones east of Riyadh and destroyed three missiles aimed at an air base. Qatar said it had thwarted a drone attack targeting the US-run Al-Udeid air base, Washington’s largest military installation in the Middle East.Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain said Iran struck a hotel and two residential buildings in the capital Manama, revising an earlier statement that had reported damage to two hotels.The humanitarian toll is also mounting. Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam warned that “a humanitarian disaster is looming” as Israeli evacuation orders triggered large-scale displacement from Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 123 people had been killed in Israeli strikes since the country was pulled into the conflict earlier this week, including casualties from fresh strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.The United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk called for “transparent and impartial investigations” into a reported deadly strike on a school in Iran. “What we have asked for is obviously prompt, transparent and impartial investigations, which we understand has been announced by the United States of America,” he told reporters in Geneva, adding that “we need this to happen very quickly and we need to also make sure that there is accountability as well as redress for the victims”.Military fallout has also spread beyond the main combat zones. Kuwait’s defence ministry said 67 army personnel had been injured since Iran began its retaliation campaign, the highest number reported by any Gulf military so far.In Europe, British authorities arrested four men in London on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service by allegedly spying on locations and individuals linked to the city’s Jewish community. Police said one suspect was Iranian while the others held dual UK-Iranian nationality.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said sending American ground troops into Iran was not under consideration at present. “It’s a waste of time. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose,” he told NBC in a telephone interview, dismissing comments by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi suggesting Tehran was ready for a ground invasion.In a separate development, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said three Australian military personnel were aboard a US submarine involved in sinking an Iranian navy vessel near Sri Lanka earlier this week as part of a training arrangement.Trump also signalled support for Iranian Kurdish fighters potentially launching an offensive against Tehran, saying: “I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that, I’d be all for it.”
Gold prices traded largely steady in futures markets on Friday, while retail bullion rates across major Indian cities remained almost unchanged with marginal declines.As of 15:02 pm, gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) showed limited movement across key contracts. The April 2026 contract was trading at Rs 1,60,008 per 10 grams, up Rs 335 or 0.21% from the previous close. The June contract stood at Rs 1,63,780 per 10 grams, up Rs 15 or 0.01%, indicating a largely range-bound session in the bullion market.Here are the city-wise gold rates today:
In the national capital, 24K gold is priced at Rs 16,302 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold stands at Rs 14,944 per gram, lower by Rs 1.
Mumbai bullion markets quoted 24K gold at Rs 16,287 per gram, easing Rs 1, while 22K gold was priced at Rs 14,929 per gram, down Rs 1.
Chennai markets showed a similar marginal change, with 24K gold at Rs 16,494 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold stood at Rs 15,119 per gram, also slipping by Rs 1.
In Kolkata, 24K gold was quoted at Rs 16,287 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold traded at Rs 14,929 per gram, lower by Rs 1.
Hyderabad bullion traders listed 24K gold at Rs 16,287 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold was selling at Rs 14,929 per gram, also down Rs 1.
In Bangalore, 24K gold stood at Rs 16,287 per gram, slipping Rs 1, while 22K gold was priced at Rs 14,929 per gram, lower by Rs 1.
Ahmedabad markets quoted 24K gold at Rs 16,292 per gram, easing Rs 1, while 22K gold was available at Rs 14,934 per gram, down Rs 1.
Jaipur traders reported 24K gold at Rs 16,302 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold stood at Rs 14,944 per gram, lower by Rs 1.
In Patna, 24K gold was priced at Rs 16,292 per gram, slipping Rs 1, while 22K gold traded at Rs 14,934 per gram, down Rs 1.
Lucknow markets quoted 24K gold at Rs 16,302 per gram, down Rs 1, while 22K gold was selling at Rs 14,944 per gram, lower by Rs 1.
NEW DELHI: Even as questions grow over his form, India continue to view Varun Chakravarthy as their potential match-winner — the “X-factor” who could still turn the T20 World Cup final in their favour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The mystery spinner endured a difficult outing in India’s dramatic seven-run semifinal win over England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, conceding 64 runs in four overs. Yet the team management and senior teammates remain firmly behind him ahead of the title clash against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
India vice-captain Axar Patel revealed that the team has had conversations with Chakravarthy about staying mentally strong and sticking to his plans, even when things are not going his way.“We have talked about it,” Axar said after the match. “We have played a lot of knockout games and in these moments mindset becomes very important. Yes, there is skill and all, but when you go for runs, don’t change your plan even if the batter is targeting you.”Axar stressed that confidence remains key for the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler.“You have a plan to put it in the stumps first, and then suddenly you change the line. Yes, there could be mistakes in pressure situations. We keep telling him, ‘You are the X-factor, trust yourself.’ When it comes to the ball, it is all about confidence,” he added.Chakravarthy’s struggles were most visible when England’s Jacob Bethell launched an aggressive assault, smashing three sixes in the spinner’s opening over and taking 42 runs off just 13 balls faced against him during his blistering century.Despite the hammering, Axar pointed out that Chakravarthy still managed a crucial wicket.“If you look at it, even after being hit for a few sixes, he got the wicket of Jos Buttler. He is the number one T20 bowler, he knows what he is doing. It is a matter of mindset,” Axar said.With one match left in the tournament, Axar believes Chakravarthy could yet script a dramatic turnaround.“We have one more match,” he said. “Maybe he will give a match-winning performance in the final.”
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NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday began sit-in protest against alleged voter roll deletions via Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party and Election Commission of hatching a “conspiracy to disenfranchise Bengali voters”. She vowed to present all those voters that have been declared dead by the poll body.“I will expose the BJP-EC conspiracy to disenfranchise Bengali voters,” she said at the start of the protest.
“I will present those voters, who have been declared dead by the Election Commission, at this protest site,” she added.Official figures released on February 28 show that nearly 63.66 lakh names — about 8.3% of the electorate — have been removed since the SIR exercise started in November last year, bringing the total number of voters down from roughly 7.66 crore to a little over 7.04 crore.Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been classified as “under adjudication”, indicating that their eligibility will be assessed through legal review in the coming weeks, a process that could further alter constituency-level electoral dynamics.The sit-in protest, which began at in central Kolkata on Friday afternoon, had been announced earlier by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who alleged that the poll panel was conducting a “politically motivated” exercise that could disenfranchise lakhs of genuine voters.BJP’s Amit Malviya slammed the Bengal CM over high unemployment in the state saying that the CM should have been focusing on “delivering what she was elected for, instead of sitting on dharnas”.“There are approximately 85 lakh unemployed people in the 18–40 age group in West Bengal, according to informed sources in the state government. That puts unemployment under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a staggering 13%, far higher than the national average, which remains in the low single digits. This is entirely to the credit of Mamata Banerjee and the result of the colossal misgovernance that West Bengal has endured over the last 15 years. Had the Chief Minister focused on delivering what she was elected for, instead of sitting on dharnas, things wouldn’t have been this bad. But it is too late now,” he said in a post on X.
KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has launched a special drive against citizens dumping garbage in the open, booking 60 people under Section 151 of the Mumbai Police Act for littering on roads and public spaces.According to civic officials, the problem of open dumping of dry and wet waste has been reported from several pockets, particularly in slum areas. Despite deploying “ghanta gadi” waste collection vehicles twice daily — in the morning and evening — many residents continue to discard garbage on streets instead of handing it over to sanitation workers.As part of the crackdown, cases have been registered against several violators, who have been directed to appear before court and pay fines. In addition, around 20 offenders were fined on the spot during the enforcement drive.The action has currently been initiated in Kalyan East, identified as one of the worst-affected areas in terms of garbage dumping. Officials said the drive will be implemented phase-wise across other parts of the twin city wherever instances of open littering are reported.KDMC Deputy Commissioner Ramdas Kokare appealed to citizens to cooperate with the civic body and follow waste segregation norms. “If residents have any complaints regarding garbage collection, they can directly approach our staff. We are ready to resolve any issue,” he said.Kokare, however, warned that non-compliance will not be tolerated. “Even after providing collection facilities twice a day, if people fail to follow the rules and continue dumping waste outside instead of handing it over to the ghanta gadi, strict action will be taken,” he said.He added that the corporation is capable of providing all necessary facilities and urged citizens to inform authorities of any shortcomings. “But ignoring the system and throwing unsegregated garbage in the open will invite penal action,” he said.
